I was happy I could do it myself

Gifts are very precious, they remind us that in some way, someone cares and really do hold us close to their heart. This display of generosity could be expressed to show love and care but in some other cases it could be presented by merit. One way to show appreciation for this display of kindness is to value and place a reasonable amount of worth to it.

In as much as there are many who love to be shown how much they are valued, many others would rather subscribe to getting these gifts by themselves, for themselves. These people hold the idea that the best thing to place value on should be something worked so hard for. To these people their reasons includes but not limited to; the way people ring the bell should they offer a helping hand or how ashamed they seem to feel when gifted something they believe they could possibly get themselves should they put needed effort.

I think gifts should be accepted, appreciated and valued when given but on the other hand, achieving most things independently breeds self worth and respect from people around.

That was the case with the first essential gift I gave myself. I consider it an achievement because it was never really easy to get it done considering the situation of things.

As a fashion designing apprentice, it wasn't very easy to fend for yourself and at the same time save up. Especially , when there isn't anyone giving much attention to your priorities or needs. In most cases, one would starve but expected to be useful at the workshop. But sometimes, a caring master might decide to offer little money for lunch.

Living with a guardian at that point in time made the burden a little easier for me. I get to eat anytime I'm around the house but fend for myself whenever I'm away from home. Fortunately, I applied and got a part-time job which allowed me work some evenings each week after training at the fashion designing shop. Since I had to work for few hours, the pay was as little as the time spent. In some cases I had to walk home late at night and some other times I sleep over at the workplace and leave very early in the morning to go prepare for my normal fashion designing apprenticeship.

In as much as the pay wasn't handsome enough, I decided to save. When other employees buy mouth watering dinners for themselves, I buy something rather affordable. Most times, these employees consider my choices unnecessary, they never knew I had better priorities. I was saving for my industrial sewing machine.

After many months, I was able to realise 75percent of the money required to make the purchase coupled with the little money made from designing clothes for customers with my boss's machine after working hours since I had started gathering lots of experiences as a fashion designer.

Initially, I never told anyone of my intentions but as it seems that the money would never get completed since a reasonable part of it would in most cases fall to other pressing needs, I decided to ask for help. I reasoned that a problem shared is half solved.

On a Friday evening, I talked to my guardian about the situation at hand, I told him how much I had realized so far but since I wanted the money to come from only my pocket and sweat, I promised to pay back after few months of making the purchase.

Few days later, the money was transferred to my account. Just the following morning, I woke up feeling butterflies in my stomach. I was about to go buy the long awaited industrial sewing machine. Firstly, I headed to the bank and after filling the withdrawal slip and waiting for a little while, my money was ready. I headed to the multiventures house which was not too far from the bank, and after a little bargaining, the purchase was made. I took the machine along with the zipper tool I bought afterwards home.

I got a technician to fix the machine, but remembering I was still owing for the machine, I decided to put more efforts to pay. I had to work really hard to pay back and after just four weeks of trying, I raised the money. I decided to hold on to the money till the actual time I had promised to pay back but on a second thought letting the money go would rather relieve the burden of being a debtor much faster. I was happy I could pay back.

The industrial machine is more than three years now, but anytime I look back at all I had to go through to get it done, I feel so happy and proud of myself. In fact, I came to understand much clearer the importance of hard work and savings too.

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